Moon

Viitahuhta Marja

In Mánnu, the yoik by sami musician Ánnámáret describes how the moon can take power over the viewer, putting him in danger and a state that cannot be escaped but must be confronted. On dark nights, one can imagine the Staalo, evil spirits in the indigenous sami mythology, walking in the northern forests - or wandering in the minds of people. The words in Ánnámáret's yoik translate as: "Moon - I surrender". The video travels in both the inner worlds as well as real Sámi landscapes, envisioned from both a human and a bird’s perspective. The work continues the long-standing collaboration between Viitahuhta and Ánnámáret and the series of video works created during that collaboration. Parts of the work are also used as part of Ánnámáret's concert Nieguid duovdagat, in which Viitahuhta accompanies the music with her video works. The music also includes Ilkka Heinonen's Jouhikko (finnish bowed lyre) and Turkka Inkilä's electronic music.

Production Year
2021
Duration
00:05:25
Tyyppi
Asiasana
Original Title
Mánnu
English Title

Moon

Production Countries
Finland
Dialogue
Yes
Sound
Yes
Cast
Marja Viitahuhta (Author), Marja Viitahuhta (Cinematographer), Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman (Composer), Marja Viitahuhta (Editor), Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman (Producer), Marja Viitahuhta (Script), Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman (Sound Design), Alfred Kordelinin säätiö (Funder), Taiteen edistämiskeskus (Funder)
Press Photos
Marja Viitahuhta (formerly Mikkonen) is a Helsinki-based media artist and filmmaker. Her works range from films, performances and installations to photography and collage. She holds a BA degree in performance art from the Turku Polytechnic Arts Academy and an MFA degree from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. She has been awarded internationally at Cannes (Cinéfondation), Stuttgarter Filmwinter, Mediawave and L’Alternativa film festivals. Viitahuhta's recurring themes focus on perception and experience of female protagonists. Her works deconstruct individual identities, memories, or the idealised imagery of nations and landscapes. Her work often speaks in an intimate and personal tone and deals with existence and mortality. The text and image are set in a dialogue in Viitahuhta’s experimental language. Viitahuhta often bases her work on documentary filmmaking, archive material and found images as well as interviews.